Unwanted Neighbors

The construction of the four-storey Nismara Hotel on Jalan Uma Alas in Kerobokan, North Kuta has been the source of many complaints from neighbors surrounding the project.

Local residents are complaining that three deep wells of a depth of 100-meters each created by the Nismara Hotel have caused the water of local residents to become murky and polluted, raising concerns that the hotel project is over-exploiting the local water table.

Citizens are also complaining that the structure and superstructure of the hotel impinges on share alleyways (gang) complicating free movement around the perimeter of the project. Recent rains, moreover, caused one of the walls of the hotel to crumble, causing panic for local residents.

Wayan Derno, a neighbor to the project quoted in Radar Bali said the hotel is built on leasehold land held for 30-years, Derno claims that the building permit approved for the project was limited to a villa, but a four-story hotel is being built instead in seeming violation to the IMB.

Derno said that project has also failed to obtain the required "adjoining permission" (izin penyanding) where all adjoining property owners must state their written acceptance of the project before building can commence. "As an adjoining neighbor have never been asked for my signature. Among all my neighbors, no one has been asked to give adjoining permission," Derno complained.

Derno is calling on licensing and zoning officials to investigate the hotel project.

When the district chief for Kerobokan Kelod, Made Westawan was contacted by Radar Bali he said he was unaware of any complaints from the public and could not recall if his office had issued the needed recommendation for an IMB. He told the press he could also not recall if any complaint had been filed in connection with the project.